7/28/2019 2012 Constitution of the Student Body of Georgia Highlands College
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ConstitutionoftheStudentBodyofGeorgiaHighlandsCollege
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Preamble
We,theStudentsofGeorgiaHighlandsCollege(hereinafterreferredtoastheCollege),doherebyordain
andestablishthisConstitutionoftheStudentBodyoftheCollegeinordertoupholdtheidealsof
responsiblecitizenshipofthiscampus,tofosterleadership,tofacilitatebettercommunicationbetween
studentsandadministrationandfaculty,andtomaintainanenhancedatmosphereoflearning.This
ConstitutionwillalsorecognizethatStudentsmaybecomeveryinvolvedintheeffortsofindividualsand
organizationstoimprovephysicalandsocialconditionsoftheCollege,toincreaseeffectivenessofthe
learningprocessesandthedevelopmentofmaturity,andtocreateopportunitiesforself-governance
characterizedbyorderlyproceduresandmaturejudgment.ThisConstitutionalsoassumesthepower
andresponsibilityofself-governancedelegatedtousbythePresidentoftheCollegeandtheBoardof
RegentsoftheUniversitySystemofGeorgia.
ArticleI
Membership
Section1.Composition
MembershipintheStudentBodyshallbecomposedofallofficiallyregisteredandenrolledstudentsat
theCollege.
Section2.Privileges
Anyofficiallyregisteredandenrolledstudentshallbeentitledtovoteinstudentelectionsandtomake
nominationsforsaidelections.
ArticleII
Organization
Section1.NameofOrganization
ThegoverningstudentorganizationfortheCollegeshallbeknownastheStudentGovernment
Association,hereafterreferredtoastheSGA.ThedutiesandfunctionsofthisOrganizationaresuchas
arehereinconferreduponit.
Section2.Membership
ParagraphA.TheSGAshallconsistofalldesignatedstudentleaders(Presidents)ofallregistered
studentorganizations(RSO)(ortheirdesignatedrepresentative),CoordinatorsofStudentLifeforeach
GHClocation,theVicePresidentofAcademicandStudentAffairs(oradesignatedStudentAffairs
representative),theVicePresidentofFinance(oradesignatedrepresentativefromAccountingServices)
andonefacultymemberperGHClocationasnominatedbytheVicePresidentforAcademicand
StudentAffairs.
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ParagraphB.VotingRightsforSGAmemberswillbeestablishedbythecriteriathatdeterminesathow
manyGHClocationsaRSOmaintainsactivityfoundinArticleX.
Section3.SGAOfficers
ParagraphA.TheChairpersonoftheSGAwillbenominatedandchosenfromthestudentmembersofSGA.TheChairpersonwillbeanon-votingmemberexceptasatiebreaker,andshallresignhis/her
representationofaRSOtoserveasanunbiasedmemberoftheSGA.
ParagraphB.TheSecretaryoftheSGAwillbenominatedandchosenfromthestudentmembersofthe
SGA.TheSecretaryshallretainallregularvotingrightsandwillnotberequiredtoresignhis/her
representationofanRSO
ParagraphC.AssociateChairsshallbeselectedforeachGHClocationthatisnotthehomeofthe
Chairperson.ThedutyoftheAssociateChairwillbetorepresenttheinterestsofhis/herGHClocation
duringSGAmeetings,andtofillinasneededfortheSGAChairperson.AssociateChairsshallretainall
regularvotingrightsandwillnotberequiredtoresignhis/herrepresentationofanRSO,unlesstheyare
fulfillingthedutiesoftheChairperson.
Section3.UltimateAuthority
ThePresidentoftheCollegeshallhaveultimatediscretioninapprovinganydecisionsor
recommendationsmadebytheSGA.
ArticleIII
DutiesandFunctionsoftheStudentGovernmentAssociation
Section1.Purpose
ParagraphA.ThePrimarypurposeoftheSGAshallbetohelpformulatejustandproperregulation
pertainingtostudentgovernmentandtoassistthosepersonsdesignatedtoenforcetheregulations.
ParagraphB.TheSGAshallpromotecampusactivitiesandeventsinamannerthatwillresultinthe
greatestpossibleadvantageandsatisfactiontoeachstudentasbothanindividualandasapartofthe
StudentBodyasawhole;andtopromotetheCollegeasaleadinginstitutionofthecommunity.
Section2.Meetings
ParagraphA.TheSGAshallmeetatleastonceamonthduringeachacademicterm,oratthecallofthe
ChairoranyCoordinatorofStudentLife.
ParagraphB.Thequorumnecessaryforbusinessshallconsistofamajorityofthemembershippresent
atthecurrentmeeting.
ParagraphC.Monthlymeetingsduringthesummertermshallbewaivedasneededororderedbythe
ChairoranyCoordinatorofStudentLife.
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Section3.Functions
TheSGAshallspecificallyhavethesemajorfunctions:
1. ToacceptanddiscussmattersofinterestandconcernpresentedtoitfromtheStudentBodyandbyvariousregisteredstudentorganizations,andtopresentproposalssubjecttotheapprovalofthePresidentandFacultyoftheCollege.
2. TodeterminethebudgetfortheOfficeofStudentLifeusingthestudentactivityfees,andsubmitthisbudgetfortheapprovalofthePresidentoftheCollege.
3. TorecommendrecognitionofnewstudentorganizationsfortheCollegecampus(es)subjecttotheapprovaloftheStudentAffairsCommittee,Faculty,andPresidentofthe
College.
4. Toestablishpolicyrelativetostudentactivities,subjecttoapprovalofthePresidentandFacultyoftheCollege.
5. Toadjudicatetrafficappeals.ArticleIV
StudentMembershipintheStudentGovernmentAssociation
StudentrepresentationandmembershipintheSGAshallconsistofallPresidents(ordesignee)ofall
registeredstudentorganizationsoftheCollege.
Section1.StudentRepresentationMembership
ParagraphA.MembershipontheSGAwillconsistofallcurrentregisteredstudentorganization
presidentsfromallGHClocations.
ParagraphB.Forstudentsinterestedinparticipatinginstudentgovernmentandarenotapresident(or
designee)ofaRSO,Student-At-Largepositionswillbeavailable.Twostudent-at-largepositionswillbe
reservedforeachGHClocation.StudentsinterestedinapplyingfortheAt-Largepositionsmust
completeanapplicationandinterviewprocessthroughtheOfficeofStudentLifeathis/herrespective
location.TheStudent-At-Largepositionswillhavealltherightsandresponsibilitiesplacedwiththeother
membersoftheStudentGovernmentAssociation.
ParagraphC.IfforanyreasontheRSOpresidentisnotabletoserve,thepresidentmaydesignate
anotherclubmembertoserveinhis/herplace.Thereplacementrepresentativewillnothavethepower
tovoteunlesshe/sheisthepermanentdesignee.
ParagraphD.TheRSOrepresentative(Presidentordesignee)mustbeconsistentthroughouttheschool
year,andwillbedeterminedbythefirstSGAmeetingofeachsemester.
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ParagraphE.EachRSOpresident,andonlyitspresident,willhaveone(1)vote.IftheRSOpresident
wishestoabdicatehis/hervotingprivilegestoapermanentdesignee,itmaybedone.
ParagraphF.ThetermofservicewillbefromJuly1toJune30.
ParagraphG.ThecombinedSGAmembersshallhavethepowertoremoveamemberoftheStudentGovernmentAssociationbyunanimousconsentoftheremainingmembersoftheSGAforjustcause
throughappropriatedueprocess.
ArticleV
QualificationsforStudentMembershipontheSGA
Section1.Eachstudentmembershallcomplywiththequalificationshereinstated:
ParagraphA.Allcandidatesmusthaveaminimumcumulativegradepointaverage(GPA)of2.25for
workattemptedattheCollegeandmustbefreeofjudicialprobation.Exceptionstothisrulearefirst
timefreshmanstudentswhohavenotyetearnedaGPAattheCollege,inwhichcasethefinalhigh
schoolcumulativeGPAwillbeconsidered.
ParagraphB.AllmembersmustbecurrentlyenrolledstudentsattheCollegeduringtheirterminoffice.
ParagraphC.Eachmembermustcarryaminimumofsix(6)creditsemesterhoursduringeachacademic
semesterduringhisorhertermofoffice.
ParagraphD.AtanytimeshouldthecumulativeGPAdropbelowa2.25,themembershallbeplacedon
academicprobationforonesemester.Probationisonlyallowedonesemesterduringthemember’s
termofoffice.ThecumulativeGPAmustreachorexceed2.25bythefollowingtermorthemember
shallberemovedfromofficeatthebeginningofthesubsequentsemester.Membersonprobationwill
havefulldutiesandprivilegesoftheoffice.
ParagraphE.IfaSGArepresentativeisplacedonjudicialprobationduringhis/hertermthe
representativeshallberemovedfromoffice,andanewrepresentativeforthatRSOshallbenamed.
ParagraphF.Summersemesterenrollmentisoptional,howevermembersshouldbewillingto
participateinanysummertrainingsessionsorleadershipretreats.
ArticleVI
RegisteredStudentOrganizations
Section1.ApplicationtoForm
AllstudentshavetheprivilegetoorganizeandregisterstudentorganizationsthroughtheOfficeof
StudentLife.AnapplicationthatstatestheintenttoformmustbecompletedasspecifiedintheCollege
StudentHandbook.
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Section2.Approval
ThecompletedNewOrganizationApplicationwillbesubmittedtotheCoordinatorofStudentLifeatthe
respectiveGHClocation.TheCoordinatorofStudentLifewillpresentthedocumentstotheSGAfor
reviewandapproval.FollowingSGAapproval,theapplicationisforwardedtotheStudentAffairs
Committeeforreview.TheStudentAffairsCommitteeshallreviewtheinformationandsubmititfor
considerationtotheFacultyoftheCollege.FollowingthevoteoftheFaculty,theStudentAffairs
Committeewillpresenttheirdecisionwithawrittenrationalastowhythegroupisapprovedordenied.
ThisrecommendationwillthenbesenttothePresidentoftheCollegeforfinalapproval.
Section3.Membership
NoapprovedRSOcandiscriminateonthebasisofsex,race,religionorotherprotectedclasses.Any
currentlyenrolledstudentattheCollegeiseligibletojoinaclubororganization;however,individual
groupsmayspecifycriteriaand/orrequirementsthatmustbemet.
ParagraphA.RSOofficersmusthaveandmaintaina2.25orbettercumulativeGPAandbefreeof
academicand/ordisciplinaryprobation.
ParagraphB.AstudentmayjoinasmanyRSOsashe/shewouldlike,howeverastudentshouldnothold
thepresident’sofficeinmorethanone(1)RSOperyear.Astudentmayholdotherofficerpositionsin
multipleRSOs.
Section4.Advisor(s)
Afaculty/staffadvisorisrequiredforallregisteredstudentorganizationsbyadministrativepolicy.Full-
timeCollegeemployeesmustbetheleadormainadvisorforeachRSO.Part-timeCollegeemployees
mayserveasanadditionaladvisortoassisttheleadormainadvisor.Theadvisor(s)willberesponsible
forcheckingstudents’eligibilityandwillguidetheRSO’sactivities.Theadvisorwillnothavethepower
tovoteontheSGAwiththeexceptionoffacultyselectedtoserveontheSGA.
Section5.SocialActivitiesandEvents
AllRSOsmustsubmitaproposalforanyCollegeactivitybyfilingaStudentLifeEventForm.Thisrequest
mustbeturnedintotheOfficeofStudentLifeatleasttwoweeksbeforetheeventforreviewand
approvalbytheCoordinatorofStudentLifeattheGHClocationoftheproposedactivity.Anyquestions
regardingtheeventmustbesettledpriortoapprovalbeinggranted.Substantialchangestoanapproved
eventmayrevokepreviousapprovalandrequireadditionalreviewbytheCoordinatorofStudentLife.
ArticleVII
Amendments
Section1.Proposal
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ParagraphA.AnamendmenttothisConstitutionmaybeproposedbypresentingaclearstatementof
theamendmentwiththesignaturesof50currentlyenrolledstudentstotheSGA.Theproposalmustbe
consideredfortwoconsecutivemeetingspriortothecalltovote.
ParagraphB.AnymemberoftheCollegestudentbody,facultyorstaffmayproposeanamendment.
Section2.Vote
AnyproposedamendmenttotheConstitutionreceivingatwo-thirdsmajorityofthevotecastbythe
SGAandthenamajorityofthevotescastbytheStudentBodyshallbedeclaredratified.ThePresident
ofGeorgiaHighlandsCollegeobtainsultimateauthorityoverthestudentgoverningbody.
ArticleVIII
Quorum
Section1.NumberforQuorum
Aquorumshallberequiredtopassanylegislation,resolutionorrecommendationproposedbytheSGA.
Quorumisequaltofifty(50)percentplusoneofallvotingmembersoftheSGA.
Section2.VotingTiebreaker
TheChairoftheSGAwillcastthedecidingvoteinanytieinvoting.
ArticleIX
RulesofOrder
Section1.EditionofRules
ThelatesteditionofRobert’sRulesofOrdershallgoverntheprocedureoftheSGA.
Section2.Attendance
AllmeetingsoftheStudentGovernmentAssociationshallbeopenforattendancetoallmembersofthe
StudentBodyaswellasthefacultyandstaffoftheCollege.
ParagraphA.StudentmembersoftheSGAmustattendatleast51%ofallSGAmeetingsheldduring
theirterminofficeinordertoreceiveavoteduringtheannualStudentActivityFeeBudgetProposaland
HearingProcedures.
ArticleX
ActiveClubsandBudgetHearingsandReporting
Section1.InorderforaRSOtobelistedasactiveacrossdifferentcampusesand/ortorequestfunding
attheSGA’syearlybudgethearingstheRSOwillneedtomeetthefollowingbenchmarksforeach
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campusforwhichtheywishtobelistedasactiveand/orfundsarebeingrequested.TheRSOmust
providedocumentationforeachbenchmarktotheCoordinatorsofStudentLifeandtheSGA.
ParagraphA.MeetingsonCampus-EachRSOmusthaveatleastthreescheduledmeetingsper
semesteronthecampusesthattheyarerequestingfundingfor.Thesemeetingsmusthavebeen
advertisedtothestudentbody.Advertisingroutesaretheweeklystudentlifeemail,theFlushFlash,
flyers,orotherapprovedmeansofcommunicationtostudents.
ParagraphB.EventsonCampus-ARSOrequestingfundingforspecificcampusesmusthaveatleasttwo
eventformsonfilewiththeCoordinatorofStudentLifeateachrespectiveGHClocationincludedinthe
fundingrequest.
ParagraphC.ActiveAdvisors-TheremustbeanadvisorpresenceateachactiveRSOlocation.The
advisorhavinginteractionwithRSOmembersandtheOfficeofStudentLifeateachactivecampus
definesanadvisorpresence.
ParagraphD.MembersperLocation-EachRSOmustsubmitarostertotheOfficeofStudentLifeby
October1&March1ofeachyear.Therostermusthaveaminimumof5activememberspercampus.
Rostersmustincludethestudent’sname,emailaddress,andatelephonenumber.
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